No. 17 Women’s Water Polo Goes 2-0 at Bison Invite, 7-0 Start Best in Program History

Photo by: Jeanie Wahl

Feb 09, 2019

LEWISBURG, Pa.- The No. 17 women's water polo team began the Bucknell Bison Invite going 2-0 with wins over Gannon and Salem.

Game 1 vs. GannonIn its first meeting in program history with the Golden Knights from Gannon, the Crimson tabbed an 18-5 win. Harvard jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the first quarter, before first-year Evan Tingler began a seven-goal Crimson rally, scoring off the sprint from the outside. The offensive onslaught continued as Kristen Hong tallied three goals with two coming on a counter-attack. Harvard exited the first half of play leading 11-4.

The Crimson held the Golden Knights scoreless in the third quarter, while tallying six more goals from Hong, Grace Thawley, Borden Wahl, Inde Halligan, and back-to-back scores from Olivia Price. Although Gannon's Campbell Ruhl found the back of the net for a last-minute score, Angie Varona notched a 2-meter goal to secure the win.

Game 2 vs. SalemContinuing its success into the second contest of the day, the Crimson opened up play against Salem as Hong connected with Borden Wahl for the first two offensive tallies. Two more goals came from Tingler and Quinne Pursell to give Harvard the lead at the end of the first period, 4-1.

Before moving into the final eight minutes of play, Harvard scrounged up six more goals from Thawley, Tingler, Price, and Wahl, while allowing one score from the Tigers. Salem collected back-to-back goals from Beatrice Popescu and Annefleur ten Bloemendal in an attempt to bring upon a rally. However, the Crimson let up only one more goal before Grace Thawley found the back of the net to seal an 11-5 victory and a 7-0 start to the season.

Harvard Highlights

First-year goaltender Zoe Banks tallied 21 saves on the day with three steals and three assists.

The Crimson recorded its best start to the season going 7-0 to its previous 5-0 start in 2011 during Friends of Water Polo Head Coach and James Herscot '58 Coach of Excellence Ted Minnis' first year at the helm.

Senior Kristen Hong recorded a combined seven goals, two assists, two steals and a block in the two contests.

Up NextThe Crimson continue its Bison Invite venture tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. with a rematch against Siena before concluding the invite with another rematch with No. 18 Wagner at 10:20 a.m.